Index Thesis Biography Historical Context Associated Location Influences

Index Thesis Biography Historical Context Associated Location Influences Inventory Lesson Plan Itinerary Conclusion Thomas Prichard Rossiter Evolution of a Hudson River School Painter

Index • • • Thesis (Marlena) Biography (Laura) Historical Context (Heather) Influences on Rossiter… (Sarah) Rossiters Influences… (Colleen) Associated Location (Marlena) Inventory of Works (Kelly) Lesson Plan (Laura) Itinerary (Sarah and Colleen) Conclusion (Heather)

Thesis Through his evolving artistic style, Thomas Prichard Rossiter showed an appreciation for the Hudson River Valley because of its history, beauty, and spirituality.

Biography • Born in New Haven, CT on September 29, 1817 • 1836 -study art in New Haven with Nathaniel Jocelyn • 1838 - opened studio • Exhibit work at National Academy of Design and the Apollo Association • 1840 - left for Europe • The next 4 ½ years lived in Italy • 1846 - return to the US, establish himself in New York

Biography Cont. • 1851 -marry Anna Parmly • Tour Europe, settled in Paris until 1856 • Rossiter now began painting more scriptural pictures – Miriam dancing before the Hosts – Return of the Dove to the Ark – Ascension • 1855 - exhibited at Paris Salon • 1859 -series of history paintings • Late 1850’s- marry Mary Sterling • Mid 1860’s- paint traditional themes of history • Moved to Cold Spring, New York, lived there until death on May 17, 1871

Historical Context • Romanticism- Artistic and intellectual movement that originated in the late 18 th century and stressed strong emotion, imagination, freedom from classical correctness in art forms, and rebellion against social conventions. • Steamboats and Canals- revolutionizing travel in the Hudson River Valley lafayette

Historical Context cont. • West Point Foundrywas a major manufacturer of the “Parrot Gun” during Civil War era. • Cold Spring- major fires in 1862 and 1875 on main street. Population grew rapidly during in the years before the Civil War. Became the commercial and industrial center of the Hudson Highlands.

Associated Location Cold Spring • George Washington named the village • Founded in the 18 th century • Harbor for river traffic between New York City and Albany • West Point Foundry • Rossiter’s home Fair Lawn

Associated Location cont. • Rossiter built his home, “Fair Lawn” on the Hudson River • He lived there until his death in 1871 The picture “House on Hudson” is a view from his home

Influences on Rossiter… • Hudson River School • Civil War/American Nationalism • Trip to Europe Italian landscape Tomb of Washington at Mount Vernon

Rossiter’s Influence On… • Travel – more people saw paintings of the Hudson River Valley and wanted to see the spectacular sights for themselves. Niagara Falls • Nation’s Unity – during time of uncertainty, Rossiter called to mind a sense of unity in a country now threatened by political and social dissension. Washington and Lafayette at Mount Vernon • Scriptural Influence – Rossiter was chiefly engaged in spiritual pictures for a period of his life and encouraged other artists to take on different subjects. http: //www. americanpresident. org/history/George. Washington/multimedia/topic 1/common. shtml? image=3

Inventory Of Works Highland Hudson River-(Undated) Oil on Canvas Picnic By the Lake (Undated)

Inventory of Works Cont. The Rural Post Office (Undated) House On The Hudson- (1852) Visit of the Prince of Wales, President Buchanan, and Dignitaries to the Tomb of Washington at Mount Vernon, October 1860 http: //www. askart. com/theartist. asp? id=20484

Inventory of Works Cont. Muses and Graces-1859 Oil A Pic-Nic on the Hudson-1863 Oil on canvas http: //www. usartists. org/gallery. php? artist=284

Lesson Plan Objective- Using the painting “Pic-Nic on the Hudson, ” students will better appreciate Rossiter’s works and understand why and how he painted this picture the way he did, as well as the people involved in the painting and the importance they hold Pre-Lesson- Students will take note of the important dates in Rossiter’s life and from there construct their own timelines for each child to refer to Lesson- There will be a field trip to Cold Spring. The students will sit by the Hudson and take note of it’s beauty. They will write down anything they find important, interesting, or beautiful. They will be shown “Pic-Nic on the Hudson” and will study the painting

Lesson Plan Cont. • Lesson (cont. )- The class will then be split into 4 groups and each group will discuss and write down important info. about the painting (location, who’s in the painting, etc. ). The students will be asked to construct a dialogue for the people in the painting. They will make a conversation of what they think those people would be talking about. After, they will put on a play for their class on the dialogue they made. • Post-Lesson- The students will be asked to find another painting by Rossiter with their group, then they will write on what they think the painting is about. • Assessment- Informal. Students will hand in their postlesson work.

Itinerary Cold Spring, considered one of the most historic towns in the Hudson River Valley, was also the home of one of our country’s last major painters of American history. Thomas Prichard Rossiter resided in an Italianate mansion that he called Fair Lawn in Cold Spring New York. Although you cannot tour his home, by visiting the town, you can get a glimpse of the town he called home. Directions: Manhattan - GW Bridge - Take Palisades Parkway North to end - Bear Mountain Bridge Circle. 1/2 way around circle and over bear Mountain Bridge ($1 toll). Left onto Route 9 D North - continue 8 miles - left onto Main Street, Cold Spring. Route 84 East from PA - over the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge (stay to right) - take 1 st exit, Route 9 D South (Exit 11) - Right onto Route 9 D South. Continue for 6 miles, through tunnel, another 2 miles to right at traffic light onto Main Street, Cold Spring.

A Day in Cold Spring Foundry School Museum 63 Chesnut St. Julia L. Butterfield Memorial Library 10 Morris Avenue Hours: Monday-Friday 11: 00 -5: 00 Saturday 11: 00 -2: 00 Hours: Sunday 2 - 5 pm, Tuesday & Wednesday 10 am - 4 pm, and Thursday 1 - 4 pm. Open for groups at other times by appointment. Closed January & February.

A Day in Cold Spring cont. Heritage Way Walking Tours Led by local volunteers, the walks are held every Sunday between mid-May and mid-November (with the exception of days of heavy rain) and begin at 2 pm at 72 Main St. , in Cold Spring. The Old Train Station Located at Depot Square at the foot of Main Street close to the current Metro North train platform. Hours: Monday-Sunday 11: 00 am 11: 00 pm

Conclusion • Thomas Prichard Rossiter was a great artist of the Hudson River Valley, though he was underappreciated in his time. • He painted a variety of pictures including historical and scriptural as well as many portraits. He also used the influences of the Romantic Period in his works. • He traveled all around the world painting but enjoyed the Hudson River Valley greatly. This can be seen in the many works he did of this area.

Bibliography • • • http: //www. visitputnam. org http: //www. pchs. fsm. org/archive. php http: //www. pchs. fsm. org/faq. php http: //escapemaker. com/ny/coldspring. htm http: //www. coldspringonhudson. com http: //online. library. marist. edu: 2123/articles/17/17 -00757 -article. html http: //www. hudsonvalleyruins. org/yasinsac/foundry. html http: //www. historicdistricts. com/ny/putnam/state. html http: //www. e-history. com/plac_usa_ny_p. htm http: //www. americanpresident. org/history/George. Washington/multime dia/topic 1/common. shtml? image=3